‘By Design!’ Why Did the Commanders Keep 3 Quarterbacks?

The Washington Commanders have opted to keep three quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster, a decision that drew attention at a press conference with general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn .

As the Commanders unveiled their roster, questions arose about whether the NFLPA's choice not to implement the emergency quarterback rule influenced the team's decision to retain Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, and Jeff Driskel.

Peters addressed this speculation by stating, “not a lot,” explaining that the decision was based primarily on Driskel's impressive performance.

“We thought Jeff did a really good job throughout. He got better and better throughout the offseason and training camp. We thought when we were making those (roster) decisions that Jeff earned a spot on the 53,” Peters noted.

While the top two spots in the quarterback room were expected to go to rookie Jayden Daniels and veteran Marcus Mariota, Driskel's determination earned him the final spot.

“He went and took it,” Peters emphasized, praising Driskel's efforts during the offseason.

Head Coach Dan Quinn added further insight, describing the Commanders' quarterback situation as “a really cool quarterback room.”

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Quinn emphasized the synergy among the players and the coaching staff, saying, “The coaching, their connection together, and to see these four guys working together… It was by design that we would be heavy into that space from a coaching point of view."

Rookie Sam Hartman, out of Notre Dame and Wake Forest, was also retained but signed to the practice squad. Quinn and Peters hinted at a strategic approach, believing that keeping another experienced player like Driskel could provide valuable support for Daniels' development in his rookie season.